WAUSAU - We know the Northwoods has great hunting and fishing, but we also have some of the BEST hospitals in the nation. Aspirus Wausau was recognized TWICE in the last week.

They were listed as one of the 100 Best Community Hospitals by Becker's Hospital Review. The US News and World Report also ranks Aspirus among the top 15 percent of hospitals in the nation.

Marita Hattem is Aspirus's Interim President and Chief Operating Officer. She says Aspirus doctors bring exceptional value to the area.

"It's our mission to deliver the best quality of care we can at the lowest possible cost to the communities that we serve. This is just a way of a third party looking at us and recognizing that we're really getting the results we're looking for. Our quality is exceptional for a community of this size and for this kind of region," said Hattem.

She also gives credit to the quality of life in this area for drawing in top notch medical talent to a relatively small community.

"When you first say, 'Hey come to Wausau,Wiscosin!' people usually say, where is that?' But once you get people here they realize what an amazing community it is. North Central Wisconsin, the heart and soul in these communities, the quality of life in these communities makes people want to live here. And then when they realize that scientifically, especially as clinicians, they can get all the challenge and reward that they're looking for. The research that we do here is amazing, driven by the quality of people that we're able to lure here."

- It's a clash. More schools want to provide technology for students, like laptops. But some students can't use them at home for lack of internet access. Find out how one local school district handles this problem, tonight on Newswatch 12.

- Plus, the state championship for high school gymnastics takes place this weekend in Madison. One Rhinelander athlete had her best performance of her career in sectionals and will head to state.

We'll have the details on these stories and more tonight on Newswatch 12 - news from where you live.

CHESTER, IL - A former suburban Chicago police officer convicted of killing his third wife and suspected in his fourth wife's disappearance has pleaded not guilty to trying to hire someone to kill the prosecutor who helped put him in prison.

Drew Peterson entered the plea Tuesday in a southern Illinois courtroom with his feet shackled. He also waived a preliminary hearing.

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